GHANA: Heads Roll In Sports Ministry Over Journalists Deported From Commonwealth Games

A deputy minister and another top official of Ghana’s sports regulatory body over a visa scandal that saw sixty fake journalists deported from the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

A statement from the presidency read: “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankkwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 12th April 2018, suspended from office, Pius Enam Hadzide and the acting Director General of the National Sports Council, Hon. Robert Sarfo Mensah.

“This decision has been taken following preliminary investigations conducted into the circumstance that led to the arrest of some sixty (60) Ghanaians, who had allegedly attempted to enter Australia by false pretences, in the on-going 21st Commonwealth Games.”

The deported journalists were found not to be who they claim having failed to answer basic sports questions put to them by Australian authorities. They investigation found they got visas through illegal connections with the help of people in authority.

The president also directed that other top officials be recalled from the Games to assist the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) into the matter.

Meanwhile, deputy sports minister, Pius Enam Hadzide insist his hands are clean following the visa racketeering scandal that rocked Ghana’s participation in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.